Lorain teacher allegedly sought nude pictures from teen boys

ELYRIA — A Lorain math teacher has been indicted for allegedly asking two teenage boys to give him nude photos of themselves.

Sean Silvasy, who taught high school math at the alternative Credit Recovery Academy, faces two counts of attempted illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, according to an indictment handed down last week.

One charge is a felony and the other is a misdemeanor, Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said.

Silvasy, 43, was served with the secret indictment Monday when he was stopped by Amherst police, county Sheriff’s Sgt. Randy Koubeck said.

Koubeck said Silvasy has been under investigation since January when the two teens reported his requests.

“They kept getting text messages from him that he wanted some nude photos,” Koubeck said.

The boys, who are 16 and 17, never sent Silvasy any photos despite the persistent requests, he said. Koubeck also said the two boys were working for Silvasy at some rental properties he owned when the requests were made.

When confronted by police, Koubeck said Silvasy admitted to asking the teens for nude photographs.

Lorain Schools Superintendent Tom Tucker said Silvasy, who joined the district in August 2013, will be placed on paid leave until the criminal case against him is resolved.

He said the district learned about the investigation into Silvasy over the summer and conducted its own internal review to make sure the teens weren’t students he was teaching and that nothing inappropriate had happened on school grounds.

In addition to the internal investigation, Tucker said the district kept a close eye on Silvasy. He said Silvasy was regarded as a good teacher and hasn’t had any disciplinary problems.

He also said that a background check on Silvasy before he was hired last year came back clean.

Silvasy, who was freed on bond Tuesday, is due to be arraigned Thursday in county Common Pleas Court.